(DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE, AUGUST 24, 1920)

**[Page 350]**

To Stalin

In my view, this article gives a fairly precise characterization of the mood that prevails now not only in Turkey, but also in Persia and other backward countries of the near East.

The other day I read in *Pravda* a report on your address to the II Congress of the Third International concerning our attitude toward the peoples of countries backward in capitalist development, and I think that this article will have some interest for you. It seems to me that it is one of numerous confirmations of your brilliant analysis on the aforementioned question.

I will not take up more of your attention.

With warm communist greetings,

S. Kirov

**ON THE EXPLORATION OF THE KURSK MAGNETIC ANOMALY REGION**
**(DECREE OF THE COUNCIL OF LABOR AND DEFENSE, AUGUST 21, 1920)**

For the purpose of expediting the beginning of work on deep-boring exploration of the Kursk magnetic anomaly region and ensuring uninterrupted production of such work, the Council of Labor and Defense hereby decrees:

1. To recognize all work connected with exploration of the Kursk magnetic anomalies as having special state significance.

2. In supplementation of the decree of the Council of Labor and Defense of July 7 of the current year, to extend, in accordance with section 2 of this decree, to the administration and its organs engaged in deep boring of the Kursk anomalies, based on the workers and employees on hand as of August 15, the general decree on militarization of November 28, 1919, with such additions and modifications as are provided for in the decree of the Council of Labor and Defense of June 9 of the current year, with the exception of those specialists in mining and petroleum work who are released by special decree of the Council of Labor and Defense.

3. Unskilled workers are dispatched to the work by order of the Chief Committee of Labor.

4. All workers and employees, both at the work sites and in the deep-boring administration, receive enhanced food rations according to the norms for mine workers engaged in particularly difficult work and are supplied with work clothing.

5. Necessary residential quarters for employees and workers, as well as for the administration, are provided in the manner of compulsory obligation of the population.

All freight consigned to the deep-boring administration is to be transported by rail and water routes without any delays whatsoever, and such freight is to receive priority over all other freight, except operational freight, and in necessary cases freight weighing up to 50 pounds in each individual instance may be transported in passenger trains as baggage, in view of the necessity of transporting extremely fragile and valuable instruments and equipment.

6. For the transportation of freight, workers, and employees, the deep-boring administration makes use through the Transport Department of priority labor obligation of the population in the localities. It is proposed that the Chief Committee of Labor submit to the Council of Labor and Defense a draft for exemption from horse mobilization, precisely specifying the minimum number of horses necessary for the work on boring the Kursk magnetic anomalies.

7. Direct the People's Commissariat of Food Supply to place at the disposal of the boring administration in the magnetic anomaly region a monthly fund in the amount of one month's food supply for 115 persons.

8. In view of the exceptional significance for the Republic of the speedy completion of work on exploration of the Kursk magnetic anomaly region, all Soviet, civil, and military authorities are obligated to render complete assistance to the aforementioned work, in no way allowing interdepartmental friction and obstruction.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

*Published from the original signed by V. I. Lenin.*

**TELEGRAM TO THE FOOD COMMISSAR OF SIBERIA**

August 25, 1920

For the purpose of securing the Red Army and the working population of the Republic's labor centers with meat and lard, I propose that effective, revolutionary measures be adopted for the successful implementation of...